1. Intro to Environmental Systems and Nature of Science

2. Let’s Talk about it!
Should environmental scientists’ discoveries about the natural world influence human activity? If so, how?
How do scientists uncover, research, and solve environmental problems?
Like all species on Earth, humans rely on a healthy, functioning planet for air, water, food, and shelter.

3. I. What is Environmental Science?
It is the study of our planet’s natural systems and how humans and the environment affect one another
The environment includes all living and nonliving things with which organisms interact.
Understanding the interactions between humans and the environment is the first step to solving environmental problems.
Discuss: How we are all part of the environment. Maybe ask students how they view their own role in the environment etc. Why do we need the natural world?
National Marine Fisheries Service scientists studying whether commercial boats are harming endangered killer whales

4. II. Environmental Science Vs. Environmentalism
Environmental Science: Objective, unbiased pursuit of knowledge about the workings of the environment and our interactions with it
Environmentalism: Social movement dedicated to protecting the natural world
What other environmentalism do you know about? How do you feel about those things? Do you think they do more harm than good or vice versa?

5. III. Population and the environment
Over the last several hundred years, human population and resource consumption have increased dramatically
• Tremendous and rapid human population growth can be attributed to:
• The Agricultural Revolution: About 10,000 years ago; humans began living in villages, had longer life spans, and more surviving children.
• Industrial Revolution: Began in early 1700s; driven by fossil fuels and technological advances
Why do you think it is necessary to understand population growth when discussing the environment?
Did You Know? The human population increases by about 200,000 people every day.

6. IV. Resources
Natural resources are materials and energy sources found in nature that humans need to survive.
Renewable resources: Naturally replenished over short periods
Nonrenewable resources: Naturally formed more slowly than we use them.
Renewable resources can become nonrenewable if used faster than they are replenished
Sustainable: able to meet the current demand for a resource without depleting future suppy
What are some ways we use resources sustainably?

7. V. Tragedy of the Commons
Describes a situation in which resources, made available to everyone, are used unsustainably and eventually depleted
Resource management, whether voluntary or mandated, can help avoid resource depletion
What are some other “commons” that you can think of? How might it be a problem for future society?
The “commons” refers to a public pastureland that was shared by villagers in 19th-century England.

8. Nature of Science

9. I. What Science is and What it is Not
Science is an organized way of studying the natural world, and the knowledge gained from such studies.
Science assumes that the natural world functions in accordance with rules that do not change.
Science does not deal with the supernatural.
Science relies on evidence from measurements and observations.
Scientific ideas are “supported,” not “proven,” and “accepted,” not “believed in.”

10. II. Process of Science
Science involves asking questions, making observations, seeking evidence, sharing ideas, and analyzing results.
Science is not linear—the process loops back on itself and follows many different paths.
Science is a dynamic, creative endeavor.

11. II. Process of Science
Hypothesis: testable idea that attempts to explain a phenomenon or answer a scientific question. It is NOT a question.
Examples of good hypotheses:
1. All daisies have the same number of petals.
2. If you get at least 6 hours of sleep, you will do better on tests than if you get less sleep
3. Eating greasy food causes pimples.

12. II. Process of Science Independent vs Dependent variable
Independent: variable that scientist manipulates (i.e. time, amount of water etc)—ALWAYS on the x axis
Dependent: depends on the conditions set up in the experiment—ALWAYS on the y axis

13. Graphing Review

14. I. Graphing A. There are 3 things that all graphs must have
1. Title-have to tell audience what you are representing (i.e. Time vs. Distance)—must be descriptive
2. Label for the x axis
3. Label for the y axis
4. Scale needs to be spread out across the graph not lumped into one corner
You must decide what type of graph to use to BEST represent the data

15. II. Types of graphs
There are three types of graphs we will use in science
1. Pie
2. Bar
3. Line
Which type of graph do you think goes with each type of data?
Trends
Percentages
Comparisons

16. III. Types of graphs Pie Line Bar
Typically used to show a piece of the whole or percentages.
This type of graph is rarely used in environmental because we look more at trends and comparisons to previous data. However, it is used when talking about the atmosphere and gases etc.
Line
Typically show trends. Multiple lines can show comparisons with multiple data points.
Bar
Typically show comparisons between items

17. Examples of Data
Plant growth—line; energy sources—bar;

18. Ethics & Economics

19. Open your phone, download the app Socrative student!
Room name: cyfaires

20. I. Building on Environmental Science
Addressing environmental problems involves more than just understanding the science.
Ethics: Study of behavior (good and bad, right and wrong), moral principles, and values
Culture: Ensemble of knowledge, beliefs, values, and learned ways of life shared by a group of people
Worldview: Perception of the world and a person’s place in it

21. II. Environmental Ethics
Environmental ethics is the application of ethical standards to the relationship between humans and the environment.
Anthropocentrism: Humans and human welfare most important
Biocentrism: All living things have value; some may be more important than others
Ecocentrism: Well-being of a species or community more important than that of an individual
Where do you identify the most?

22. III. What is Economics?
The study of how resources are used and distributed
Markets tend to move toward equilibrium, where demand for a product matches supply.
Cost-benefit analysis is a decision-making tool that compares an activity’s gains and costs.

23. IV. Economics and the Environment
Economies depend on the environment for goods and services.
Goods: Sunlight, fresh water, timber, and fossil fuels
Services: Nutrient cycling and purification of air and water
Economic activity can negatively affect the environment, which in turn can negatively affect economies.

24. V. Harmful Economic Assumptions
These long-held economic assumptions have had negative impacts on the environment:
Costs and benefits only affect buyers and sellers.
Short-term costs and benefits should be emphasized.
Resources are unlimited.
Economic growth is continual.

25. VI. Environmental Policy
A set of general plans and principles for interactions between humans and the environment
Effective environmental policy involves input from science, ethics, and economics.
In the U.S., all three branches of government (legislative, executive, and judicial) are involved in federal environmental policy.

26. VII. State Vs Local policy
State and local environmental policies cannot violate the U.S. Constitution.
The strength of environmental policy differs from state to state.
States that experience environmental disasters tend to have stronger environmental laws.

27. 1. HOW DO YOU DETERMINE WHAT RIGHTS SOMEONE HAS?
2. What is it based on?
3. What things in history have changed those perspectives?
4. Are the rights of people the same today as they were 40 years ago? Why or Why not?